Birds in a Journal with Eileen Hull Designs

Hi everyone and welcome. Throughout the month of May Eileen Hull's teams are creating projects featuring birds, nests and eggs to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Last week I shared a tutorial for creating a tablet stand using Eileen's Sizzix Scoreboards 'Phone Stand' XL Die. This week it's time to dive back into my Eileen Hull Designs 'Full Size Journal' and have a go at drawing/painting some birds.

Starting with the first of the triple-page spreads there's some collaging using Eileen's Sizzix Thinlits 'Snail Mail' Dies, Maker Forte 'Snail Mail - Postage' and 'Buttons, Cards and More' Stamp Sets.

I've combined them with Rebekah Meier's TCW 'Mini Specimens' 6x6 Stencil, painting the butterflies with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics.

Moving across the page there's a closed flap made from a tea-stained index card covered with Grafix Duralar Matte Film that has been embossed using Eileen's Sizzix 3D Textured Impressions 'Sweater' Embossing Folder.

On top I've popped one of my scrap clusters made using more Snail Mail stamps, die cuts and a bunch of leftovers.

As you open the flap the first of my hand-drawn/painted birds is revealed, created over a background layered with paint and Snail Mail stamping.

A close up shows how the Snail Mail die cut postage stamps have been painted and embossed with Eileen's Sizzix 3D Textured Impressions 'Crochet Mandala' Embossing Folder. The little twigs and leaves come from Eileen's Sizzix Thinlits 'Shadowbox Frames #1' Die Set, whilst the tiny flowers come from her Sizzix Thinlits 'Shadowbox Elements' Die Set.

Moving over to the back of the index card flap where I've stamped a sentiment from Eileen's Maker Forte 'Wonderful World of Flowers' Stamp set.

You can see more clearly from the close up how the Snail Mail stamping shows through the layers of paint in the background.

The second of the triple-page spreads starts with a flap made from a textured wallpaper offcut.

It has been embellished with another Snail Mail scrap cluster, Snail Mail die cut postage stamps and a button card from Eileen's Maker Forte 'Button Cards #2' Stamp set.

Opening this flap reveals another hand-drawn/painted bird once again created created over a background layered with paint and Snail Mail stamping.

As before the Snail Mail die cut postage stamps have been painted and embossed with Eileen's Sizzix 3D Textured Impressions 'Crochet Mandala' Embossing Folder. 

Moving across the page you'll see the opposite side of the middle page has been stencilled with the Rebekah Meier TCW 'Layered Wallpaper' 6x6 Stencil.

Finally here are a couple of video flip through's;

Thank you for joining me to see my bird journaling. Make sure to check out all the fantastic projects and tutorials from the rest of Eileen's team members - links to their posts can be found on Eileen's blog throughout the month.

For now thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Birds, Nests & Eggs - It's May with Eileen Hull Designs

Hi everyone and welcome. Throughout the month of May Eileen Hull's teams are creating projects featuring birds, nests and eggs to celebrate the arrival of Spring. I've got a super quick project to share with you for this one that uses Eileen's Sizzix Scoreboards 'Phone Stand' XL Die.

Anyone with a larger size tablet will know it can be tiresome to attempt propping it up when you want to watch one of Eileen's YouTube videos or browse her Etsy store. So here's a larger stand which will make supporting your tablet much easier.

To create your own begin by die cutting two of each of the phone stand die pieces from Sizzix Matboard or board/card of an equally sturdy weight - this needs to be sturdy to support the weight of your tablet. You will also need to cut a rectangular piece of board measuring 7 1/4" (18.5cm) wide by 5 1/2" (14cm) tall. I rounded off the corners of my rectangle but this is not essential. Placing the two main Phone Stand pieces side by side glue the rectangle over the top of the main stand section (as shown below).

Once the glue is dry turn the now joined stands over and attach a strip of board measuring 7 1/2" (19cm) wide by 1 1/2" (4cm) tall across the back, moving it roughly 1 1/2" (4cm) from the top of the stand (as shown below). Test it out before gluing in place as this can be adjusted upwards if you want the angle of the stand to be lowered.

If you are planning on pre-decorating your stand make sure to stick decorative papers to the board before cutting the pieces. Alternatively, while the stand is still flat decorate it now with paints, inks etc - I chose to use coordinate my finished stand with our living room decor so used some leftover paint.

Now fold up the stand along the score-lines, butting the two small flaps at the bottom against the strip of board and gluing onto the back of the stand. When dry flip the stand over to the front and slot the support strips into the bottom of the stand, gluing them in place. Then glue the extra folded strips over the top as shown below; I find it really helpful to run a line of glue along the score-lines to keep the folds in place.

Finish the stand by painting the bottom supports and adding a piece of decorative paper (or in this case wallpaper which conveniently features a bird) over the large rectangular piece on the front. And that's it done!

Here's the back showing how the strip of board at the top helps to support the stand.

As a guide my tablet is 9 1/2" (24.5cm) tall by 5 3/4" (15cm) wide and it will easily sit sideways so I can watch our favourite lady in action :)

Thank you for joining me to see how this extra large stand came together. Make sure to check out all the fantastic projects and tutorials from the rest of Eileen's team members - links to their posts can be found on Eileen's blog throughout the month.

For now thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx